Published 10:38 am, Thursday, December 4, 2014

STAMFORD — A landlord was arraigned Thursday at Stamford Superior Court on allegations that he set a property he owns ablaze while two of its occupants were inside of the residence.

Anthony Manousos, 33, of Norwalk, faces one count of first-degree arson. Citing the seriousness of the allegations and the fact that his actions could have caused serious injuries to the inhabitants of the structure that Manousos allegedly set on fire, Judge Erika Tindill set Manousos bond at $500,000. Tindill ordered Manousos to submit to electronic monitoring should he make bond and set a 7 p.m. curfew for him. He posted the bond, and his next court date is Dec. 19.

The warrant for Manousos’ arrest as well as three search warrants concerning the case were ordered sealed. State’s Attorney Paul Ferencek was careful not to reveal any of the details contained in the warrants during his bond arguments. He hinted that one of the search warrants, which was served after Manousos was arrested, revealed “even more incriminating evidence against the defendant.”

Frank DiScala Jr. and Michael Skiber represented Manousos during the bond hearing. Arguing for a $75,000 bond, Skiber described Manousos as a family man and self-made computer analyst who is the landlord of two properties and has no criminal record.

After the hearing, Skiber said the claims against his client are “merely allegations.”

“It was a fast-moving investigation, and our job as attorneys is to stop the clock, gather information, craft the appropriate responses and do the appropriate investigation,” he said.

Stamford Police and firefighters responded to a three-story residence at 52 Highland Road — which is owned by Manousos — on Wednesday at 12:40 a.m. for the report of a male — later identified as Manousos — pouring gasoline into the rear vestibule of an occupied dwelling.

A short time later, the home’s stairway engulfed in flames and a male was seen running from the residence’s yard, police said.

Police said a resident escaped the blaze from the front of the home.

Stamford Fire and Rescue quickly arrived and extinguished the flames that were contained at the rear of the residence, said police, who arrived shortly thereafter.

As Sgt. Russell Gladwin was traveling east on Highland Road, police said he observed Manousos walking out of a vacant lot.

Manousos was detained at the scene and identified as the suspect seen running from 52 Highland Road, police said.

Investigators later learned that Manousos was the owner of the residence, police said.

The Stamford Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, local and state Fire Marshall’s Offices took over the scene.

BCI officers contacted the state Attorney’s Office to apply for and execute several search warrants, police said.

Police said through the warrants and other investigative techniques, BCI applied for an arrest warrant for Manousos.

“No one was injured in the fire, however the dwelling sustained a large amount of heat and smoke damage,” said police Lt. Diedrich Hohn.